You’re familiar with early mornings, hovering chair squats and avoiding the elevator

If you answered number two (like the rest of us), you’ll understand the daily struggle to fit in exercise with a full-time desk job. You may have tried a few ways to sneak in an office workout, all to no avail, but before you haul a treadmill into your office à la Jackie Frank, did you ever think of using resistance bands?

Resistance bands have been around for a long time but according to personal trainer and owner of Flow Athletic, Ben Lucas, they’re having a moment right now and it’s no surprise why. They’re an easy, versatile way of toning and strengthening the body or upping the anti on a workout and they can be done anywhere, anytime.

“There is so much that you can do with them from leg exercises in a Barre class, to chin ups in a functional training class and entire workouts in the new ReXist360 class,” says Ben, referring to the new class at Flow Athletic which uses ReXist360, a resistance training system developed in the United States and brought to our shores by Ben and his team.

Image via Flow Athletic

“The ReXist360 classes use a resistance band that straps to your thighs, so it is secure on you for the entire session, giving you resistance through every exercise that you do,” says Ben. “It was originally created for athletes and with them in mind, the thickness of this particular band was designed so that it does not pull on your lower back or any other joints that may be harmed if working with resistance bands incorrectly.”

ReXist360 focuses mainly on your core, glutes, quads, hamstrings, outer and inner thighs and is designed to get you fitter and stronger in a shorter amount of time, which explains the overwhelming response from Flow members.

“Although we initially thought the system would be used within our other strength classes, it has been so popular that we have added several stand alone classes into our timetable,” says Ben.

We asked Ben Lucas to share with us some simple but effective resistance band exercises that you can do at your desk so that next time you’re an hour deep into a conference call you can make the pain worthwhile…just make sure it’s not a video-chat.

5 resistance band exercises for a workout at work

1. Leg pulses

Using a smaller band, put your feet inside of it and pull it up onto your thighs, about mid-way (you don’t want the band to sit too close to your knees as you risk injury, and you don’t want it to sit too high as it won’t do anything).

Now pull your legs out until you can feel the resistance from the band

Slowly pulse your legs out an inch and keep repeating that for 15-20 reps. Make sure you are engaging your glutes and core while doing this and if you feel uncomfortable pressure on your knees or back, try pulling your legs in closer together

2. One Side Leg Pulse

Plant both of your feet onto the ground and then lift your right leg off the ground slightly.

Engage your core and squeeze your glutes, then start pulsing the right leg to the side. Make sure that your core stays tight and still so you can also get a good ab workout out of it too

When pulsing your leg, move the entire leg, from the hip to the knee and the ankle. If you only pulse with the knee you may risk injury

Try to do 15 a side per set

3. Arm Pulses

Put the band around your forearms, and raise your arms up at 90 degrees, so your shoulders are in line with your elbows, and your wrists are facing straight towards the roof

Now slowly separate your arms away from eachother, feeling the resistance on the band as you do it, then bring your arms in an inch, hold, and then push them out an inch again

Continue this movement for 20 reps

4. Bow and Arrow

Holding the resistance band in both hands, straighten your left hand towards the computer, pull the right hand in towards your shoulder, ensuring that you can feel a little pinch in your shoulder blade as you do it. Rotate your body slightly to the right too, you should now be in a bow and arrow type position.

Keep the left hand still and strong as it is going to be your anchor but pull the right arm back, keeping the entire arm level with your shoulder.

Slowly release the pressure on the right arm, and then pull it back again for another rep

Do 12 reps a side. Engage your core through this entire exercise for added benefit

5. Russian Twists/ Rotations

Holding the band in front of you in both hands, suck in your stomach and slowly rotate towards the right. Your core, shoulders and hands should be in line and track to the right together

Slowly bring yourself back to starting position, then do this on the other side

Try to do 8-10 reps a side

Try to keep the resistance band tight the entire time

If you’re after a tough workout and want results fast, why not try the new 30-minute ReXist360 class at Flow Athletic? I was lucky enough to test it out myself and I have to say, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney with a love of the outdoors, Georgia has always led an active lifestyle. She has a passion for health, fitness and fashion, and loves to travel and try new things.
She graduated from the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Media (PR and Advertising) and initially pursued the public relations field but was always drawn to journalism due to her love of reading and writing.
For Georgia, life is about balance. She leads an active and fulfilled lifestyle and nourishes her mind and body but won't shy away from a taco and wine!